Cobourg Woman Questions Police Response After Friend Found Dead Near Whitby GO Station

Pete Fisher
11 hours ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local

(Images, Rochelle Walkers last text from her friend/Rochelle Walker and her friend’s dog/DRPS Missing Persons Post/Distance from where Rochelle Walker’s friend lived to where his body was found)

A Cobourg woman says she is devastated and frustrated after her friend was found dead near the Whitby GO Station nearly a week after she first contacted police asking for a wellness check.

Rochelle Walker believes more could and should have been done after she repeatedly raised concerns about her friend Jason’s wellbeing in the days before his body was discovered in brush near the Whitby GO Station on May 26, 2026.

“No foul play is suspected,” police have said, but Walker says she can’t stop thinking that her friend may still be alive had emergency responders acted sooner.

Walker had known Jason for several years and was listed as the emergency contact for his dog — something she says made the events leading up to his disappearance even more alarming.

The first sign something was wrong came on May 16 when Jason contacted her telling her that he may need her look after his dog for a few days.

“When he first asked, I immediately thought something was off because his dog meant everything to him,” Walker said.

After she texted back asking if he was alright, Jason never answered.

The following day, May 17, Jason again reached out asking for help with the dog. This time he provided the phone number for the superintendent of his apartment building in Whitby so Walker’s friend could gain access to the unit if necessary.

Walker’s friend went to the apartment intending to pick up the dog. However, after arriving, the superintendent told her Jason was still inside the apartment with the animal.

When Walker’s friend spoke with Jason, she noticed he was sweating heavily and appeared unwell, but Jason decided to keep the dog at that time.

Walker said hearing that immediately heightened her concern.

“I knew something wasn’t right because when my friend said he was sweating really bad and was asking us to take his dog — and his dog was his most prized possession — I knew something was wrong.”

By Monday, May 18, Jason contacted Walker again saying he planned on leaving and wanted the dog picked up, he told her to take the bed, the toys, the food and said he hoped he would see him again sometime.

Walker’s friend returned to the apartment that evening and this time took the dog.

Jason was reportedly sitting in an unknown car, did not speak to anyone and the super of the building got the dog.

Walker says her concerns were no longer just about her friend’s mental health, but also his physical condition.

At approximately 5:30 a.m. the following morning, Walker received what would become the final message from Jason.

He texted saying he was “stranded” and unable to get a ride.

Walker wanted to help, but her own vehicle had broken down and she couldn’t get to him. Instead, she continued messaging him and asking questions about necessities for the dog.

Jason never responded.

Twenty-minutes passed without hearing from him, Walker began making calls trying to determine where he might be.

Fearing for his safety, Walker contacted Ontario Shores Centre for Mental Health Sciences seeking assistance.

Walker said Ontario Shores staff took her concerns seriously and arranged a three-way call with Durham Regional Police Service to request a wellness check.

During the call, Walker provided police with details she believed showed Jason was in crisis and possibly in need of urgent medical help.

But according to Walker, the response she received from police left her shocked.

“An hour later a Durham police officer called me and basically said it wasn’t an emergency.”

Walker says she felt dismissed and believes the urgency of the situation was minimized from the very beginning.

Even Ontario Shores staff, she said, expressed concern that Jason required medical treatment and communicated those concerns to police.

Rochelle then contacted the super of the building and was told Jason was seen leaving walking towards the Whitby GO station.

She explained to the super that Jason had previous mental health episodes.  The superintendent said he lived there for a year completely fine with no issues.

Walker believes officers had enough information to begin actively searching for Jason immediately, especially after learning he had reportedly been seen heading toward the GO station with a blanket.

“I think when I first made that call that we need a wellness check done — the police knew he was walking towards the GO station with a blanket right away. They could have went and checked the area.”

“They didn’t classify it as an emergency.”

Days passed with little communication.

Walker says she became increasingly frustrated as she waited for updates while continuing to fear the worst.

On Wednesday, May 20, at approximately 10 p.m., she received another phone call from a Durham police officer. Walker missed the call because she was sleeping, but the officer left a text asking her to call back as she had questions about Jason.

Walker called back immediately, it took her three attempts to get an answer, but someone finally picked up at midnight.

“That was the first time they really showed any concern,” Walker said.

Prior to that, she felt police had been largely dismissive of the situation.

Walker wonders if the timing of the report during the Victoria Day long weekend may have contributed to the lack of urgency.

On Thursday, May 21, a detective contacted her around noon asking additional questions.

Later that same day, Durham police issued a social media post regarding Jason being missing. Walker notes that by the time the post went public, two-and-a-half days had already passed since she initially raised concerns.

“I didn’t hear anything else until the coroner called me.”

On May 26, Jason’s body was discovered in a brush area near the Whitby GO Station — approximately one kilometre from his apartment and only a short distance from a nearby pathway.

Walker says the location where he was found has only intensified her frustration.

“That information was passed along to police right away and it’s not a big area — they should have checked it.”

She believes a timely search of the area surrounding the GO station may have changed the outcome.

“I’m 100% sure more could have been done.”

Now left grieving the loss of her friend, Walker says she hopes speaking publicly about what happened will raise awareness about the importance of taking missing persons and mental health-related wellness checks seriously from the outset.

Walker says she continues replaying those final days in her mind, wondering whether earlier intervention could have saved Jason’s life.

“I truly believe that if a proper wellness check or search would have been done, my friend might still be alive.”

 

 

Partial Information from Durham Regional Police Missing Person Guide
Missing Person (Defined under the Missing Persons Act, 2018 and adopted by the DRPS)
A person is considered missing if both of the following circumstances exist with respect to the
person:
1. The person’s whereabouts are unknown and,
i. the person has not been in contact with people who would likely be in contact with the person,
or
ii. it is reasonable in the circumstances to fear for the person’s safety because of the circumstances surrounding the person’s absence or because of any other prescribed considerations.

2. A member of a police service is unable to locate the person after making reasonable efforts to
do so.

Vulnerable person
A vulnerable person is someone who, due to age, disability, or other circumstances (whether
temporary or permanent):

Depends on others for care or support, or

Is at greater risk of being harmed, particularly by someone in a position of trust or authority

Populations that may be considered vulnerable include:

Individuals with neurodivergence (for example, autism or ADHD)

People with developmental disabilities or cognitive impairments

Individuals with mental health conditions

Children and youth in care

Older adults, including those living with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease

People who are unsheltered

Those experiencing addiction or substance use issues

Newcomers, immigrants, or individuals who do not speak English or French

If you believe someone is missing or are concerned for their safety, it’s important to act quickly. Early reporting gives police the best chance to locate the individual and ensure their well-being.

Report them missing right away. You do not need to wait 24 hours to contact the police.

The sooner a missing person is reported, the sooner an investigation can begin.

Call 9-1-1 if there is immediate concern for the person’s safety. If the situation is not urgent, contact the Durham Regional Police non-emergency line at 905-579-1520.

You do not need to be a family member to report someone missing. Anyone — including friends, coworkers, neighbours, or support workers — can file a report.

A person’s age does not determine whether they can be reported missing.

Children, adults, and older adults can all be reported missing at any time.

What Happens After You Make a Report

Once you have filed a missing person report:

You will be given an incident number for reference

Police will begin searching the last known location of the individual, including their residence or the place they were last seen

Follow-up actions will be taken based on the information you provide police